LAHORE: The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Lahore and Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (CUVAS), Bahawalpur, have been operating without regular vice-chancellors for over a year, causing administrative and academic issues in the institutions.

While search committees were formed, the appointment process remains stalled due to alleged irregularities, Dawn learnt on Friday.

At UVAS, the VC’s post has been lying vacant since January 24, 2024, following the completion of Prof Dr Nasim Ahmad’s four-year tenure. Pro-VC Prof Muhammad Younus was given temporary charge on March 7, 2024, but the absence of a permanent VC has reportedly hindered key decision-making at the varsity.

Similarly, at CUVAS, Prof Dr Muhammad Sajjad Khan retired as VC after completing his term on January 25, 2024, with Pro-VC Prof Dr Mazhar Ayyaz assuming interim charge of the post.

According to notifications available with Dawn, the Punjab government’s Livestock & Dairy Development Department constituted two search committees to recommend candidates for top slots at both universities in July 2024.

The committees headed by UVAS Lahore former founding VC Prof Dr Manzoor Ahmad Qureshi,included UVAS former VC Prof Dr Muhammad Nawaz, Sabroso Poultry Pvt Ltd Chairman Dr FM Sabir, the Punjab Higher Education Commission chairman, and the Livestock and Dairy Development Department secretary.

The committees shortlisted 14 candidates for UVAS VC slot and 12 for CUVAS, with interviews initially scheduled for January 2025. However, the process was abruptly halted after some candidates raised objections over the alleged ineligibility of a committee member.

A senior Livestock department official, speaking anonymously, admitted the delay in appointments of VCs, stating that the secretary had suspended interviews of the candidates to seek legal guidance. Despite the urgency, no new date has been set for the interviews, prolonging the leadership crisis faced by the two varsities.

The absence of permanent VCs has caused delays in academic approvals, besides resulting in financial issues and administrative inefficiencies.

Additionally, UVAS has also been without a regular dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences (FVS) since May 2022. A junior faculty member, Prof Dr Aneela Zameer Durrani, has been given the charge of the post—a move that has sparked discontent among senior professors.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2025